Analyzing Kickoff Strategies in Football

As the season kicks off, pay attention to the kickoff.

Here we go.

Last season, kick returns skyrocketed, and that's because the touchback moved

from

the 25 yard line to the 35 yard line.

And with it came a new type of kick. Uh, not

really a kick, more of a boot.

Boot on the way.

But that boot was ballin'. In fact, uh, teams should

probably do it more.

It's gonna be a touchdown Seahawks.

Last season, Carolina turned the laces out to the

sideline, opting for a school ground knuckle ball,

and it worked.

Oh, bad bounce. He punched that ball.

Panthers kicker Ryan FitzGerald had the worst hang time in the league,

and yet opponents started with the worst field

position. I think there may be some risk aversion

here.

Coaches don't like the dirty kick because it feels chaotic, it feels

unpredictable, but, uh,

it works. Dirty kicks were measurably better than the average,

not just from a field position standpoint, but from a muff rate

as well. This has very much turned into a

meaningful skill

that, uh, not everybody has. I mean, games were won and

lost last year with the kickoff. At the same time, how you

return a kick now is just as important.

Shaheed, holy catfish.

So as the season gets going here, pay attention to the

kickoff. They might be a little dirtier.

Too dirty.